Motor-driven punch



C. E. COX

MOTOR DRIVEN PUNCH Filed Oct. 12, 1945 INVENTOR. (liar/65E C0.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 16, 1947.

Patented Sept. 16, 1947 MOTOR-DRIVEN PUNCH Charles E. Cox, Wayzata,

tel-national Business New York, N. Y., a cor Minn., assignor to In- Machines Corporation, poration of New York Application October 12, 1945, Serial No. 621,940

(Cl. 164l12) 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to card perforating or punching apparatus designed for use in connection with the perforated card tabulatlng art. In this art, data is applied to the record cards in code by perforating the card in certain predetermined positions. The perforations in the card are adapted to be sensed by tabulating machines, after which the data may then be printed and accumulated in a manner well known in the art.

In the U. S. patent to Fred L. Lee and Burdette H. Phillips, No. 1,772,186, dated August 5, 1930, for a Duplicating punching device, a perforating machine is disclosed wherein the operator depresses the keys for selecting a particular punch for operation, and in so doing at the same time closes an electric circuit through an elcctromagnet. By virtue of energization of the magnet, the selected punch is thereby operated to perforate the card.

According to the present invention, an electric motor is provided which is maintained in constant rotation while the punching apparatus is being used. This motor serves to maintain an actuating shaft in constant rotation and, by means of the shaft and certain actuating instrumentallties associated therewith, a selected punch is quickly actuated upon depression of a corresponding punch-selecting key. After depression of the key and actuation of the punch, the parts are immediately returned to normal position in readiness for the next key depression. In addition to the above, a non-repeat feature is incorporated in the actuating mechanism whereby the depression of a single key will cause single actuation of its corresponding punch and whereby prolonged depression of the key will in no manner alter the operation of the mechanism so that a single punching operation will result.

The present invention is designed to overcome many of the limitations that are attendant upon the use of electrically operated key punch machines of this type. One of these limitations resides in the undue amount of noise associated with the movement of the magnet armature and linkage mechanism connecting the latter to the hammer plate, as well as the noise emitted by depression and release of the hammer plate itself. According to the present invention, this limitation has, in a large measure, been remedied by the provision of a cam and clutch mechanism including a cam drive element which operates upon the linkage system positively in both directions in such a manner that the hammer plate or punch operating ball, as it is sometimes termed, is momentarily lowered and subsequently elevated again by a positive drive through the linkage system, thus eliminating the conventional snap-back action formerly resorted to and consequently eliminating considerable noise. In addition to this, since the use of electromagnets is dispensed with altogether, the usual noise associated with these magnets is. of course, eliminated without sacrificing fast action of the punches.

Another feature that has been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention is interchangeability of parts with the standard parts of machines of the type shown and described in the above mentioned patent to Lee et al. By the provision of the present invention, punching apparatus has been devised in which considerably greater power is available for forcing the punches through the card so that it is possible, if desired, to perforate several cards at once.

The provision of an apparatus of the character briefly outlined above being the principal object of the invention, another object thereof is to provide a machine which may be operated with greater speed than has heretofore been possible.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3 showing the position of the parts at the instant when the selected key punch is depressed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view showing the driving mechanism for the punching instrumentalities.

In all of the above described views like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to Fig. 1, upon depression of any one of a set of punch selecting keys Ill, a corresponding bell crank lever i2 is rocked against the action of a spring i 3 and a corresponding interposer M is advanced so that the upper edge thereof lies underneath a transverse member or depresser Iii. An individual intcrposer I4 is provided for each selecting key In and each of the interposers overlies the head I6 ing punch IS, the upper edge of each interposer being cut away as at 20 so that when the interposer is in its normal retracted position a downward movement of the depressor I will not actuate the interposer. When, however, any one of the interposers is advanced to its effective operative position, a downward movement of the depressor I5 will depress the effectively positioned interposer and, as a consequence, the corresponding punch I8 will be moved downwardly against the action of its spring 22 to punch or perforate a card or several thicknesses of cards lying between a guide member 24 and a die member 26. Normally, the depressor I5 is held in raised position by means of a spring 28 interposed between a fixed part of the frame and a lug 3D projecting from the hammer plate 32, the latter being pivoted as at 34 and of which the depressor constitutes a part. Each of the interposers I4 is formed with a notch 36 on its underneath side to provide a shoulder 38 designed for engagement with the movable cross bar 40 of a bail 42 pivoted at 43 on a fixed part of the frame 45 of the machine. The bail 42 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 44 which pivotally carries as at 46 a depending rod 48, the nature and function of which will be subsequently described. The rod 48 is normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction, i. e., to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, by means of a spring 50 attached to a fixed part of the frame 45. Upon advance movement of any one of the interposers I4, the ball 42 will be swung about its pivotal axis 43 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the rod 48 will be lifted to perform certain functions in connection with the hammer plate drive assembly, the nature of which will now be fully set forth.

Reciprocation of the hammer plate 32 to actuate the punches 8 is effected through a linkage system including a bent link 52, the upper end of which is pivoted as at 54 to an outer portion of the hammer plate and the lower end of which is pivoted as at 56 to one arm 58 of a bell crank lever Ell. The other arm 62 of the bell crank lever fill is pivoted at its lower end as at 64 to one end of a rcciprocable driving arm 66.

Still referring to Fig. l and in addition to Figs. 2 and 4, the driving arm 86 is provided with an enlarged medial region 68 which is slotted as at 10. An actuating shaft 12, suitably journaled in the frame I45, passes through the slot 10 formed in the arm 66 and serves in the manner of a guide pin for controlling the path of movement of the reciprocable arm. The shaft 12 is adapted to be continuously rotated at a constant rate of speed, and toward this end, as may be seen in Fig. 5, it carries a gear 14 at one end thereof which meshes with a spiral gear I6 mounted on a shaft 18 rotatably supported in bearings 80 secured to the outer framework. The shaft 18 also carries a worm wheel 82 which mesh s with a worm gear 84 disposed on the motor shaft 86 of a constant speed electric motor M suitably mounted in the framework.

The reciprocable driving arm 66 has mounted thereon a pair of spaced cam rollers 88 and 90, the former being mounted adjacent one end of the arm and the latter being mounted medially thereof. A cam 92 in the form of a star wheel is loosely disposed upon the shaft 12 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and operates at predetermined seof a correspondlccted times between the two cam rollers 88 and 90 and serves to cause reciprocation of the driving arm B6. The cam or star wheel 92 is provided with an odd number of cam points 94 or projections thereon which, for convenience in the present instance, are nine in number. Such an arrangement of cam points results in the provision of a high cam dwell at certain points on the periphery of the wheel and in the provision of low dwell points 96 at points diametrically opposed to the high dwell points 54. The linear dirtance between the two cam rollers B8 and 90 is substantially equal to the linear distance existing between a point 96 of low dwell and a point 94 of high dwell. Since the cam or star wheel 92 is uniform in its design around the periphery thereof, it will be seen that upon rotation of the former the driving arm 65 will be positively moved to the left each time a high dwell point 94 passes the roller 88 and it will also positively be moved to the right each time such a high dwell point passes the cam roller 90. In this manner, positive driving of the arm 66 in opposite directions will occur. The cam or star wheel 92 is adapted to be clutched in and out of engagement with the constantly rotating shaft 12 in a manner that will subsequently be described and, in order that the driving arm 56 shall normally be maintained in its right-hand position, as viewed in Fig. l, with the roller 88 resting in a low dwell region of the star wheel when the clutching arrangement is inoperative, a coil spring 98 having one end thereof attached to an end of the arm and the other end thereof attached to a fixed point on the framework I45 serves to normally draw the arm 56 to its righthand position of rest.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the constantly rotating shaft 12 has mounted thereon and pinned thereto a ratchet wheel I00 forming one element of a ratchet and pawl clutch device. By virtue of the peculiar mode of operation of this ratchet and pawl clutch device, and as will become apparent presently, it is deemed appropriate to term the same a fractional revolution clutch, inasmuch as engagement and disengagement thereof takes place during a fractional portion of one revolution of the input clutching element. The other element of the fractional revolution clutch device is in the form of a pawl H32 which is pivoted at one end thereof as at [04 to an eccentric point on the inner side of the cam or star wheel 92. The pawl I02 is spring-pressed as at I06 and is provided with a tooth or shoulder I08 which, by virtue of the spring IE5, is normally urged into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheel I00.

From the above description of parts it will be seen that inasmuch as the pawl I02 is carried by and movable with the cam or star wheel 92, it will, at such times as when it is in engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheel I00, serve to drive the cam or star wheel 92 in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the shaft 12.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a second and relatively larger ratchet or latch wheel Illl is loosely disposed upon the shaft 12 and is provided with a series of relatively widely spaced teeth or protuberances H2 on the periphery thereof, which teeth correspond in number to the number of high dwell or projection points 94 on the cam or star wheel 92. A pin or finger II4 projects outwardly from a point adjacent the periphery of the wheel I I0 and underlies the free end of the pawl I 02. The pin or finger I I4 also extends into an aperture or opening I I formed in the cam or star wheel 92 in the peripheral regions thereof.

The function of the latch wheel 0 is to selectively permit engagement of the ratchet wheel I00 by the pawl I02 and accordingly a latch member I I8 in the form of an angle piece is pivoted as at I20 to a stationary part of the framework I45. The member H8 is provided with a vertically disposed arm I22 and carries a latch shoulder I24 near the bottom thereof designed for successive engagement with the teeth lI2 formed on the latch wheel H0. The latch member 3 is spring-pressed as at I26 in such a manner that the shoulder I24 is normally urged into a position wherein it is disposed directly in the path of movement of the successively oncoming teeth II2 formed on the latch wheel 0.

From the above description, it will be seen that when the latch wheel I I0 is restrained in its rotational movement about the axis of the shaft 12, by virtue of engagement between the shoulder I24 and one of the teeth I I2 on the latch wheel, rotation of the star wheel 92 is rendered impossible by virtue of the fact that the pin or finger II4 mounted on the latch wheel Il0 will engage the inner edge of the aperture H6. The point of pivotal connection between the pawl I02 and inner side of the star wheel 92, the length of the pawl, and the extent of its curvature is such that when the star wheel 92 and latch wheel I I 0 occupy the specific relationship with respect to each other, shown in Fig. 1, the pin or finger 4 will underlie the pawl I02 in such a manner as to hold this pawl in a position of disengagement from the ratchet wheel I00. With the parts thus disengaged, the shaft I2 may continue to rotate while the star wheel 92, pawl I02 and latch wheel IIO will be held stationary under the restraining influence of the shoulder I24. When these various parts are thus held stationary, the driving arm 66 will occupy its extreme right-hand position under the influence of the spring 93 with one roller 03 occupying a position of low dwell on the star wheel 02 and the other roller 00 occupying a position of high dwell thereon. When the driving arm 66 is in this righthand position, as viewed in Fig. 1, the linkage system, including the bell crank lever 60 and bent link 52, will be such that the hammer plate 32 is maintained elevated.

The latch member H8 is provided with a hori zontal arm I28 (Fig. 4) which is slotted as at I30 for reception therethrough of the depending rod 43. The lower end of the depending rod 48 is formed with a shoulder I32 thereon which cooperates with the underneath side of the arm I20 for lifting purposes in order that the latch member I I8 may be moved in a counterclockwise direction when the bail 42 is actuated to cause the shoulder I 24 to be withdrawn from the path of movement of the teeth Il2 on the latch wheel IIO. When this occurs, the various parts are permitted to assume the positions shown in Fig. 4, the resulting action being substantially as follows.

Upon tilting movement of the ball 42 in the usual manner, as occasioned by depression of one of the character keys l0, the depending rod 40 will be elevated slightly and the shoulder I32 formed on the latter will cause rocking movement of the angular latch member I I8 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, whereupon the shoulder I24 will be withdrawn from its latching engagement with one of the teeth I I2 on the latch wheel 0. The latch wheel IIO will then be free to turn in a clockwise direction and an initial limited amount of turning movement thereof will result, by virtue of the fact that the star wheel is held in position by the rollers 08 and and the pawl I02 bears against the pin or finger 4 under the influence of the spring I08. Such initial turning movement of the latch Wheel H0 will be expended at such time as the tooth I00 on the pawl I02 falls into mesh with the teeth on the ratchet wheel I00. Thereafter, movement of the shaft 12 is picked up by the pawl I02 and star wheel 02 which, under the driving influence of the pawl, rotates the star wheel and latch wheel through a limited degree of turning movement until such time as the next adjacent tooth II 2 on the latter engages the shoulder I24 which, by this time, in the normal course of events, has been restored to its advanced latching position, As soon as the latch wheel 0 is again latched, as just described, the pawl I 02 will ride outwardly on the pin or finger I I4 and the tooth I00 thereof will become disengaged from the teeth of the constantly rotating ratchet wheel I00. This operation will serve to disengage the shaft 12 from its clutching engagement with the star wheel 02.

Non-repetitive punching is made possible by virtue of the provision of a laterally reciprocable slide member I34. The member I34 is in the form of an elongated bar having formed therein a pair of spaced slots I30 through which stationary guide pins I38 carried by the framework I45 extend. The slide member I34 is provided with a shoulder or abutment I40 designed for engagement with the lower regions of the depending rod. 48. The forward or left-hand end of the slide member I34, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, is provided with an inclined cam portion I42 adapted to be projected into the path of movement of successive teeth 2 formed on the latch wheel Il0. Normally, when the driving arm 66 is in its right-hand position, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the member I34 is urged toward the left under the influence of the spring 50 which biases the depending rod 40 in a counter-clockwise direction. If, during operation of the apparatus, an operator inadvertently maintains one of the actuating keys I0 depressed for a prolonged period of time, one of the teeth "2 which is released by the shoulder I32 on the latch member IIB will engage the inclined cam portion I42 formed on the slide member I34 in passing and thus force the slide member to its right-hand position, whereupon the shoulder I40, by virtue of its engagement with the depending rod 48,

will swing the latter toward the right. Such swinging movement of the rod 48 will cause the shoulder I32 thereon to be shifted out of the path of movement of the edge of the slot I30 to allow the spring I26 to become effective and cause the shoulder I24 on the latch member IIB to be projected into the path of movement of an oncoming protuberance II2 on the latch wheel IIO. Thus it will be seen that whether the operating keys I0 be momentarily depressed or depressed for a prolonged period of time, a single shifting'cycle of the operating arm 05 and a consequent single depression of the hammer plate 32 will result.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the apparatus illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a record perforating machine having a depressable punch-operating hammer plate operable upon depression thereof to effect punching operations, and a depressable ball operable upon depression thereof to initiate such punching operations, non-repetitive actuating mechanism for said plate comprising a reciprocable driving arm operatively connected to said hammer plate and movable from one extreme position wherein said motor plate is elevated to another extreme position wherein the plate is depressed, a cam operable upon rotation thereof to reciprocate said arm, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a fractional revolution clutch for operatively connecting said shaft and cam, said clutch normally remaining inoperative and being operative upon an initial actuation thereof to initiate a predetermined fraction of a revolution of said cam under the influence of said shaft, means operable upon an initial depression of said ball for rendering said clutch operative, and means likewise operable upon prolonged depression of said ball for preventing initiation of an additional fractional revolution of said cam.

2. In a record perforating machine having a depressable punch-operating hammer plate operable upon depression thereof to effect punching operations, and a depressible bail operable upon depression thereof to initiate such punching operations, actuating mechanism for said plate comprising a reciprocable driving arm operatively connected to said hammer plate and movable from one extreme position wherein said hammer plate is elevated to another extreme position wherein the plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed upon said shaft, clutch means operable when engaged to connect said cam and shaft in driving relationship, a pair of cam rollers carried by said driving arm and straddling said cam, said cam being operable upon rotation thereof to engage said rollers and reciprocate the arm, and means operable upon depression of said ball for engaging said clutch means.

3. In a. record perforating machine having a depressable punch-operating hammer plate operable upon depression thereof to effect punching operations, and a depressable bail operable upon depression thereof to initiate such punching operations, actuating mechanism for said plate comprising a reciprocable driving arm operatively connected to said hammer plate and movable from one extreme position wherein said hammer plate is elevated to another extreme position wherein the plate is depressed, a rotatable drivin shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed on said shaft, a fractional revolution clutch operable when engaged to connect said cam and shaft in driving relationship, a pair of cam rollers carried by said driving arm and straddling said cam, said cam being operable upon rotation thereof to engage said rollers and reciprocate the arm, and means operable upon depression of said ball for actuating said clutch means.

4. In a record perforating machine having a depressable punch operating hammer plate operable upon depression thereof to eflect punching operations, and a depressable bail operable upon depression thereof to initiate such punching operations, actuating mechanism for said plate comprising a reciprocable driving arm operatively connected to said hammer plate and movable from one extreme position wherein said hammer plate is elevated to another extreme position wherein the plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed upon said shaft, a pair of cam rollers carried by said driving arm and straddling said cam, said cam being operable upon rotation thereof to engage said rollers and reciprocate the arm positively in opposite directions, a toothed latch wheel loosely disposed upon said shaft, a toothed ratchet wheel mounted on and rotatable with the shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam and movable bodily therewith, means normally urging said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel, there being a lost motion driving connection between said cam and latch wheel, a restraining latch normally engaging said latch wheel, means operable upon depression of said ball for disengaging said restraining latch, a pin carried by said latch wheel, and a cam surface formed on said pawl and designed for engagement with said pm when the latch wheel is restrained to cause the pawl to become disengaged from said ratchet wheel.

5. In a record perforating machine having a depressable punch operating hammer plate operable upon depression thereof to effect punching operations, and a depressable bail operable upon depression thereof to initiate such punching operations, actuating mechanism for said plate comprising a reciprocable driving arm operatively connected to said hammer plate and movable from one extreme position wherein said hammer plate is elevated to another extreme position wherein the plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed upon said shaft, a pair of cam rollers carried by said driving arm and straddling said cam, said cam being operable upon rotation thereof to engage said rollers and reciprocate the arm positively in opposite directions, a toothed latch wheel loosely disposed upon said shaft, a toothed ratchet wheel mounted on and rotatable with the shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam and movable bodily therewith, means normally urging said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel, there being a lost motion driving connection between said cam and latch wheel, a restraining latch normally engaging said latch wheel, means operable upon depression of said ball for disengaging said restraining latch, a pin carried by said latch wheel, and a cam surface formed on said pawl and designed for engagement with said pin when the latch wheel is restrained to cause the pawl to become disengaged from said ratchet wheel, said pin constituting a part of said lost motion connection.

6, In a record perforating machine having a depressable punch operating hammer plate operable upon depression thereof to effect punching operations, and a depressable bail operable up'on depression thereof to initiate such punching operations, actuating mechanism for said plate comprising a reciprocable driving arm operatively connected to said hammer plate and movable from one extreme position wherein said hammer plate is elevated to another extreme position wherein the plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed upon said shaft, a pair of cam rollers carried by said driving arm and straddling said cam, said cam being operable upon rotation thereof to engage said rollers and reciprocate the arm positively in opposite directions, a toothed latch wheel loosely disposed upon said shaft. a toothed ratchet wheel mounted on and rotatable with the shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam and movable bodily therewith, means normally urging said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel, there being a lost motion driving connection between said cam and latch wheel, a restraining latch normally engaging said latch wheel, means operable upon depression of said bail for disengaging said restraining latch, a pin carried by said latch wheel, a cam surface formed on said pawl and designed for engagement with said pin when the latch wheel is restrained to cause the pawl to become disengaged from said ratchet wheel, and means operable immediately after initial depression of said ball to restore said restraining latch to its normal position.

7. In a record perforating machine having a depressable punch operating hammer plate operable upon depression thereof to eflect punching operations, and a depressable bail operable upon depression thereof to initiate such punching operations, actuating mechanism for said plate comprising a, reciprocable driving arm operatively connected to said hammer plate and movable from one extreme position wherein said hammer plate is elevated to another extreme position wherein the plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed upon said shaft, and operable upon rotation thereof to reciprocate said arm, a toothed latch wheel loosely disposed upon said shaft, a toothed ratchet wheel mounted on and rotatable with the shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam and movable bodily therewith, means normally urging said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel, there being a lost motion driving connection between said cam and latch wheel, a restraining latch normally engagin said latch wheel, means operable upon depression of said ball for disengagi0 ing said restraining latch, a pin carried by said latch wheel, and a cam surface formed on said pawl and designed for engagement with said pin when the latch wheel is restrained to cause the pawl to become disengaged from said ratchet wheel.

8. In a record perforating machine having a depressible punch operating hammer plate operable on depression thereof to eflect punching operations and a depressible bail operable upon depression thereof to initiate said punching operations, actuating mechanism for said hammer plate comprising a reciprocating driving arm operativeiy connected to said hammer plate and movable from an extreme position wherein the hammer plate is elevated to an extreme position wherein said plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed on said shaft, means operable upon rotation of said cam for reciprocating said driving arm, a fractional revolution clutch for operatively connecting said shaft and arm, said clutch being operable upon an initial actuation thereof to initiate a predetermined fractional revolution of said cam sumcient to cause said driving arm to be moved from one extreme position thereof to the other, said clutch including a latch wheel having latch protuberances thereon, a latch member normally positioned in the path of said protuberances, means operable upon depression of said bail for withdrawing said latch from the path of said protuberances, and means operable upon continued rotation of said latch wheel for restoring said latch to its normal position in the path of said protuberances.

CHARLES E. COX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,004,994 Lasker May 12, 1931 1,882,859 Mills Oct. 18, 1932 2,030,405 Schaafl Feb. 11, 1038 2,307,112 Hueber Mar- 28, 1048 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,427,387.

September 16, 1947.

CHARLES E. COX

It is hereby certified that error a numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 7,

insert instead hammer; and that the said Le the same may conform to the record of th out motor and read with this correction therein that case in the Patent Ofiice.

ppears in the printed specification of the above line 16, claim 1, strike tters Patent should be Signed and sealed this 2d day of December, A. D. 1947.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'uioner of Patents.

position wherein the plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed upon said shaft, a pair of cam rollers carried by said driving arm and straddling said cam, said cam being operable upon rotation thereof to engage said rollers and reciprocate the arm positively in opposite directions, a toothed latch wheel loosely disposed upon said shaft. a toothed ratchet wheel mounted on and rotatable with the shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam and movable bodily therewith, means normally urging said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel, there being a lost motion driving connection between said cam and latch wheel, a restraining latch normally engaging said latch wheel, means operable upon depression of said bail for disengaging said restraining latch, a pin carried by said latch wheel, a cam surface formed on said pawl and designed for engagement with said pin when the latch wheel is restrained to cause the pawl to become disengaged from said ratchet wheel, and means operable immediately after initial depression of said ball to restore said restraining latch to its normal position.

7. In a record perforating machine having a depressable punch operating hammer plate operable upon depression thereof to eflect punching operations, and a depressable bail operable upon depression thereof to initiate such punching operations, actuating mechanism for said plate comprising a, reciprocable driving arm operatively connected to said hammer plate and movable from one extreme position wherein said hammer plate is elevated to another extreme position wherein the plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed upon said shaft, and operable upon rotation thereof to reciprocate said arm, a toothed latch wheel loosely disposed upon said shaft, a toothed ratchet wheel mounted on and rotatable with the shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said cam and movable bodily therewith, means normally urging said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel, there being a lost motion driving connection between said cam and latch wheel, a restraining latch normally engagin said latch wheel, means operable upon depression of said ball for disengagi0 ing said restraining latch, a pin carried by said latch wheel, and a cam surface formed on said pawl and designed for engagement with said pin when the latch wheel is restrained to cause the pawl to become disengaged from said ratchet wheel.

8. In a record perforating machine having a depressible punch operating hammer plate operable on depression thereof to eflect punching operations and a depressible bail operable upon depression thereof to initiate said punching operations, actuating mechanism for said hammer plate comprising a reciprocating driving arm operativeiy connected to said hammer plate and movable from an extreme position wherein the hammer plate is elevated to an extreme position wherein said plate is depressed, a rotatable driving shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a cam loosely disposed on said shaft, means operable upon rotation of said cam for reciprocating said driving arm, a fractional revolution clutch for operatively connecting said shaft and arm, said clutch being operable upon an initial actuation thereof to initiate a predetermined fractional revolution of said cam sumcient to cause said driving arm to be moved from one extreme position thereof to the other, said clutch including a latch wheel having latch protuberances thereon, a latch member normally positioned in the path of said protuberances, means operable upon depression of said bail for withdrawing said latch from the path of said protuberances, and means operable upon continued rotation of said latch wheel for restoring said latch to its normal position in the path of said protuberances.

CHARLES E. COX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,004,994 Lasker May 12, 1931 1,882,859 Mills Oct. 18, 1932 2,030,405 Schaafl Feb. 11, 1038 2,307,112 Hueber Mar- 28, 1048 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,427,387.

September 16, 1947.

CHARLES E. COX

It is hereby certified that error a numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 7,

insert instead hammer; and that the said Le the same may conform to the record of th out motor and read with this correction therein that case in the Patent Ofiice.

ppears in the printed specification of the above line 16, claim 1, strike tters Patent should be Signed and sealed this 2d day of December, A. D. 1947.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'uioner of Patents. 

